ROCKET FIRINGS PROCEED MINUS DIFFICULTIES
KEWEENAW POINT- According to information from the missile firing site at Keweenaw Point six rockets already have been fired of the total unit of 19 projected.
Two missiles were launched Wednesday between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday found another four sent aloft.
One firing was aborted due to fishermen in the radius of the shots. Seemingly, it was impossible to warn the men in time.
Another item which caused some concern was the breaking loose of transmitter material from the parachute. When this happens it is impossible to achieve recordings which render the launchings of little practical value.
The Thursday firings were scheduled for 11, 12, and 1 o’clock.
Indicated is that the unit associated with the launchings are at their posts by nine in the morning.
Queried as to whether the lighthouse occupants at Manitou Island, four miles from the launching site, witnessed the procedures or observed the rockets they answered negatively.
One of the Manitou spokesmen said that motors running on the Isle might prohibit hearing the firings and that as far as sight was concerned the island’s installation is at the eastern end with intervening forest and high ground in between.
Those associated with the work at the Calumet Air Station at Gratiot Lake say that most of the launchings have proceeded without incident in tha considerable experience has been gained through previous use of the site.
One person was missing from the project this time. He had been present at all other launchings. He is Guy Snyder, now of Wisconsin, formerly of the Gratiot Lake airfield unit.